Disposable cover for breast feeding

ABSTRACT

A disposable cover for breast feeding enables mothers to breast feed on the go. An inexpensive disposable cover is provided in vending machines at shopping malls, department stores, and toy stores, to protect the mother&#39;s privacy during breast feeding. The cover is preferably manufactured from a material which is breathable, cool, comfortable, and disposable. Distribution of the cover promotes breast feeding and encourages healthy nourishment for babies.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/151,998, filed Apr. 23, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to infant and child care accessories and in particular to a disposable cover for breast feeding. More and more mothers are turning to breast feeding as the natural and healthy way to nourish their babies. Unfortunately, due to the fast-paced nature of modern life and their participation in the workforce, privacy becomes a serious issue. Occasionally a mother may find herself at a mass transit terminal or a shopping mall with a hungry baby and a complete lack of privacy.

A search of the prior art reveals various coverings which have been developed to provide the mother a degree of privacy while breast feeding. None are closely related to the present invention, but several include features which resemble those of the present invention. Each has proven to be less than satisfactory in its own way.

Caregiver cover, U.S. Pat. No. 8,707,467 (filed May 11, 2011), provides a caregiver cover with a stretched torus or other like shaped body and an elongated open or closed shaped neck opening. The caregiver cover provides adequate coverage of chest, shoulders, upper arms, and upper back of a caregiver to protect the caregiver's clothes from becoming soiled when burping, holding, bathing, or otherwise performing activities common to caring for a baby; and/or to provide adequate coverage for a nursing mother to maintain privacy while nursing without fully covering the baby; and/or to provide a comfortable surface for the baby. The body may be a soft, comfortable, absorbent fabric such as terry cloth, flannel, knit or the like and/or reversible. A neck fastener and/or a collar may be joined to the body. The body may be a single layer, a double layer, a triple layer, or multiple layers with a top panel, a middle panel, a bottom panel and/or multiple panels.

Nursing cover up with a peek-a-boo pocket, U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,274 (filed Jul. 28, 2000), provides a nursing cover up which includes a body cover having a size adapted for covering at least a chest portion of a mother user and a hanging means for hanging the body cover in front of the mother user. The body cover further includes a peek-a-boo pocket which has a viewing opening formed on a pocket panel that separates the pocket panel into an upper piece and a lower piece. The peek-a-boo pocket includes a shield flap which extends from a bottom portion of the upper piece of the pocket panel to overlappingly position behind an upper portion of the lower piece of the pocket panel for covering an upper portion of a breast of the mother user, and a pocket lip formed at a top edge of the upper portion of the lower piece, so as to define the viewing opening between the shield flap and the pocket lip for the mother user to monitor her baby therethrough while breastfeeding. Accordingly, during breastfeeding, the nursing cover up can effectively cover up the mother's breast from being seen by anyone in all direction while maintaining good air ventilation for the baby and enabling the mother herself to monitor the breastfeeding of her baby through the peek-a-boo pocket, so that the mother may feel comfortable to breastfeed her baby anytime in anywhere.

Nursing cover, U.S. Pat. No. 7,555,790 (priority Feb. 22, 2007), provides a cover for shielding the upper front portion of a mother and nursing infant. The cover may include a panel of fabric and at least one fastening mechanism. The panel of fabric can have a height and width sufficient to substantially cover at least a region from the mother's upper chest to below the mother's breasts. A neck fastening strap can be attached to the upper edge of the panel for securing the panel to the mother's neck. A back fastening strap can be attached to a side edge of the panel of fabric and configured to optionally attach to the opposite side edge of the panel of fabric.

Nursing garment, U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,960 (filed Jun. 15, 1990), provides a nursing garment which has a close-knit upper portion which lies over the shoulder of the nursing mother, which extends down into an expanded, open-knit lower portion which covers the breast and at least part of the baby while nursing, so that the upper portion may be used for burping the baby, and the lower portion is sufficiently opaque to provide privacy to the mother, yet adequately open to allow sufficient ventilation for the baby. In one embodiment, the garment is provided with two sides to cover both breasts, and in another embodiment, a single side is covered, in which embodiment the upper edge of the upper edge of the upper, close-knit portion is weighted to securely maintain the garment in place over the mother's shoulder.

Breast feeding cover, U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,582 (filed Nov. 7, 1994), provides a breast feeding cover, which covers a mother and her baby and has a viewing window so that mother can see the baby nursing (feeding) but no one else can. The breast feeding cover fits over one shoulder and attaches around the mother's neck. A small semi-circular viewing window protrudes outward from the front panel of the breast feeding cover just above the breast so that the mother can see the baby nursing while the rest of the baby is covered. The breast feeding cover is reversed when the mother is nursing the baby on the opposite side. The viewing window is created from a stiff ribbon to ensure the pocket juts out adequately to allow the mother to view the baby. The viewing window is also reversed by pushing the stiff ribbon to the opposite side of the breast feeding cover.

Nursing garment, U.S. Pat. No. 4468816 (filed Mar. 8, 1993), provides a reversible nursing mother's garment includes a single shoulder loop attached to and carrying a drape for the wearer's breast nearer the loop. The drape includes front and rear panels. The front panel extends downwardly from the single shoulder loop towards the wearer's waistline and laterally from the wearer's side across the wearer's breast that is near the shoulder loop.

The prior art inventions require the user to launder the covering in order to use it again. These coverings are expensive, and are not suitable for those users who may only occasionally breast feed their infants outside the home. Also, the existing coverings do not fit well on certain users. The present invention has been developed for the purpose of addressing and resolving these disadvantages. A disposable cover for breast feeding, suitable for sale in public vending machines, which provides an inexpensive and convenient cover to protect the mother's privacy during breast feeding, would resolve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a disposable cover for breast feeding. An inexpensive disposable cover is provided in vending machines at shopping malls, department stores, and toy stores, to protect the mother's privacy during breast feeding. The cover is preferably manufactured from a material which is breathable, cool, comfortable, and disposable. Distribution of the cover promotes breast feeding and encourages healthy nourishment for babies.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the cover 10, and the package 11.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a user wearing the cover component of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the cover 10.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the cover component of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the four corners 20, including, the two top corners 20A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a disposable cover 10 for breast feeding.

It is to be understood that while the invention is intended for use by mothers who are breast feeding their babies, this is not intended as a limitation. With suitable modification or with no modification at all, the invention may be used by any other person who is seeking to perform an action privately in a place where no privacy is available.

The first exemplary embodiment is comprised of a disposable cover 10 with four corners 20, which is provided in a plastic package 11 in vending machines at shopping malls, department stores, and toy stores, to protect a mother's privacy during breast feeding. The cover 10 is preferably manufactured from a disposable, flexible material which is breathable, cool, and comfortable. Distribution of the cover 10 promotes breast feeding and encourages healthy nourishment for babies. The cover 10 may be provided in a variety of colors and patterns, and may display a printed symbol or slogan, such as “Baby On Board.”

The cover 10 is folded before insertion into the package 11, such that the package 11 containing the cover 10 may be easily vended, stored, and shipped. The user may also purchase the cover 10 and easily store it in a diaper bag or a purse for use at a different location. The cover 10 is preferably designed in an extra large size to accommodate users of all sizes.

To use the first exemplary embodiment, the user removes the cover 10 from the package 11, holds the baby in one arm, and drapes the cover 10 over the baby and the front of her body, with two top corners 20A of the cover 10 extending over the user's shoulders to secure it from falling off. Beneath the cover 10, the user then exposes a breast and feeds the baby. When finished, the user secures her clothing, removes the cover 10, and may dispose of the cover 10.

The cover 10 is preferably manufactured from a flexible, disposable material which provides privacy and is breathable, cool, and comfortable, such as multi-layer plastic mesh or cotton fabric. The package 11 is preferably manufactured from a flexible, disposable material which is transparent, such as plastic.

Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A cover for breast feeding, comprising: a cover having four corners; said cover being made of a material which is disposable and not intended for multiple uses; said cover being provided in a plastic package such that said cover may be provided in vending machines.
 2. The cover in claim 1, wherein the cover is manufactured from a material which is flexible, breathable, cool, and comfortable.
 3. The cover in claim 1, wherein the cover is provided in a variety of colors and patterns.
 4. The cover in claim 2, wherein the cover is provided in a variety of colors and patterns.
 5. The cover in claim 1, wherein said cover displays a printed symbol or slogan.
 6. The cover in claim 2, wherein said cover displays a printed symbol or slogan.
 7. The cover in claim 3, wherein said cover displays a printed symbol or slogan.
 8. The cover in claim 1, wherein the cover is provided within the plastic package in a folded position, such that the package containing the cover may be easily vended, stored, and shipped.
 9. The cover in claim 1, wherein the cover is manufactured in an extra-large size to accommodate users of all sizes such that the cover is sufficiently large enough to cover an entire front of a torso of a user.
 10. The cover in claim 2, wherein the cover is manufactured in an extra-large size to accommodate users of all sizes such that the cover is sufficiently large enough to cover an entire front of a torso of a user.
 11. The cover in claim 8, wherein the cover is manufactured in an extra-large size to accommodate users of all sizes such that the cover is sufficiently large enough to cover an entire front of a torso of a user.
 12. The cover in claim 1, wherein a user removes the cover from the package, holds a baby in one arm, and drapes the cover over the baby and the front of the user's body, with two corners of the cover extending over the user's shoulders to secure it from falling off.
 13. The cover in claim 7, wherein the user then exposes a breast beneath the cover and feeds the baby.
 14. The cover in claim 8, wherein the user secures the user's clothing when finished feeding the baby, removes the cover, and disposes of the cover. 